A Democrat congressional candidate has been arrested and accused of scamming a jewelry store by returning a $10 fake diamond ring for a $4,800 refund and selling the original.

Juliet Germanotta, a 36-year-old transgender woman, was arrested on Monday in La Crosse, Wisconsin and extradited to New York City.

Germanotta is trying to unseat incumbent Democrat Rep. Ron Kind in Wisconsin's 3rd District, writing in her campaign literature that 'as a woman, a transgender, a person living with HIV and as a Human right advocate, I do not feel sufficiently represented.'

The candidate, an ordained minister, has admitted in part to the allegations, but claims in a Facebook video that there are extenuating circumstances and 'two sides to every story', adding 'never let fake news or lies hold you down'.

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Germanotta is outspoken about being transgender and living with HIV. The congressional candidate is accused of returning a $10 fake ring for a $4,800 refund, and selling the original

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The strange saga dates back to September 19, when Germanotta bought a $4,800, 18-karat yellow gold Zambian emerald and diamond ring on eBay from Mikaelians Jewelry of Midtown Manhattan.

On October 2, the jewelry store filed a police complaint against Germanotta, claiming the candidate had mailed a $10 fake ring back and asked for a refund.

'I did send a ring back that wasn't the ring. That is on me. I admit to that,' Germanotta told the New York Post.

Germanotta claimed that when she complained about the quality of the ring, Mikaelians said to send it back, but she feared being scammed and suspected the store wouldn't actually issue a refund.

'I sent the ring that I sent back because I was under the impression… that I was gonna lose out on my money, that I wasn't going to get my money back,' she said. 'I sent it back because it was a stupid decision and I wasn't thinking. It's the truth.'

Ebay refunded Germanotta for the ring on October 9 after she opened a complaint, paying for the refund out of the company's own funds, an eBay source said.

Germanotta appeared in New York County Court on Valentine's Day, and was charged with two counts of grand larceny and two counts of criminal possession of stolen property

Despite her questions about the ring's quality, Germanotta turned around and sold the purchased ring and a second ring to an antique jewelry collector in Wisconsin for $4,800.

'I was taking a loss. I needed the money. I’m on a fixed income,' she explained to the Post.

On Monday, NYPD detectives investigating the case flew to Wisconsin and arrested Germanotta, who waived extradition and returned with them to New York on Tuesday.

Germanotta appeared in New York County Court on Valentine's Day, and was charged with two counts of grand larceny and two counts of criminal possession of stolen property.

Bail was set at $5,000 cash and Germanotta was released later that day.

Germanotta is seen with a supporter in October wearing several rings, but it is unknown whether any are the ring involved in the criminal charges

Late Wednesday night, Germanotta recorded a Facebook video for her supporters from a New York hotel room.

'What you will read about in the newspapers in the coming days is not my doing. I will have my day to tell my side of the story I would hope that you would bear with me at this time, as I am having a lot of difficulties,' Germanotta said.

The candidate promised a formal press conference in the coming days to address questions about how the campaign would continue.

'Never let your voice be repressed and never let fake news or lies hold you down,' said Germanotta.

Germanotta is next due in New York court on April 2. She declined to comment when reached by DailyMail.com on Friday.

The congressional candidate was last spotted on Thursday at Penn Station, boarding an Amtrak train bound for Wisconsin.